Agenda item

To receive a presentation on the Council Delivery Plan 2022 – 2026 agreed by Cabinet on 13 September 2022.

The committee heard from Joseph Brown, Cabinet Office manager.

Joseph explained that his team oversaw the performance processes in relation to the Council Delivery Plan.  Joseph took the cabinet report as read and gave an overview of the direction of the plan.

Joseph informed the committee that the plan covered a four year period, it had seven themes, 62 objectives and 173 individual commitments.  The council was in the process of developing the measures and milestones that would describe success against the commitments over the next four years.  The performance challenge process which is led by cabinet would begin in November and would cover the first two quarters of the year (Q1 and Q2).  The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive would lead the challenge process quarterly, with a publication of an annual report which would include an overview, narrative and commentary against the commitments, with detailed responses to each measure and milestone that sat beneath the commitments.

Following Joseph’s initial presentation, questions, comment and discussion were raised along the following lines:

·  Potential for amendments/refresh of the Plan if there was a change in National government.

·  Capturing in the plan pressing long standing strategic development issues that need a performance management drive (housing asset management strategy and housing allocations scheme given as examples).

·  Request for continuation of quarterly update to the overview and scrutiny committee in line with previous cabinet member commitment.

·  Improvement of public transport commitments, including responses of TfL, and how new funding settlement agreed by government will impact on the council’s ability to make the needed major transport investments.

·  Commitment to funding local community groups to deliver events and festivals (importance of community cohesion).

·  Cancellation of annual fireworks event/display.

·  Potential for large number of Ukrainian refugees presenting as homeless, following private accommodation arrangements coming to an end – whether there is provision to address this problem as and when it arises.

·  Climate commitments and whether they are as ambitious as they could be.

·  Involvement of deputy cabinet members in the performance challenge process.

·  Areas for innovation - Fly tipping, and ease of reporting / introduction of ‘free’ and regular bulky waste disposal (cost of cleaning up vs cost of providing free service and also factoring in negative impact on residents).

·  Tree planting and ensuring they survive.